Firefox Features FAQ

Discussion of features in Mozilla Firefox
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MvD
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Firefox Features FAQ

Post by MvD »

Additional Functionality via Extensions

Table of Contents

1. Rendering issues/Cloning IE
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.1"> 1.1 How do I make Firefox play embedded music on some pages?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.2">1.2 How do I get an image toolbar in Firefox (similar to IE)?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.3">1.3 How do I get autocomplete to work in Firefox?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.4">1.4 How do I get the Google sidebar in Firefox?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.5">1.5 How do I get alternate text for images to be displayed in tooltips?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.6">1.6 How do I make Firefox use a find dialog (like in IE)?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.7">1.7 Some pages simply don't work in Firefox, is there anything I can do about this?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#1.8">1.8 Is there any way I can use the IE rendering engine for specific sites (like Netscape 8)?</A>

2. Download Manager and related issues
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.1">2.1 How do I stop a blank window from appearing when I try to download something?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.2">2.2 How do I extend/customize the download manager?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.3">2.3 How do I make Firefox save files in specific folders based on their extensions?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.4">2.4 How can I keep track of my downloads using the status bar?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.5">2.5 How can I force Firefox to use an external download manager (e.g. Flashget)?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.6">2.6 How can I make Firefox display the size of file?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.7">2.7 How do I get an audio notification about a download being finished?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#2.8">2.8 How do I download all objects on a webpage?</A>

3. Enhancing the Firefox UI
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.1">3.1 How can I modify Firefox's menus?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.2">3.2 How can I add my own custom toolbar buttons?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.3">3.3 How can I modify the context menu?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.4">3.4 How can I add a search button (similar to the 'go' button)?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.5">3.5 How can I move the 'New Tab' button to the tab bar?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#3.6">3.6 How can I make the statusbar display additional information about the process of loading a webpage?</A>

4. Mini-Applications
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#4.1">4.1 A list of mini applications for Firefox</A>

5. Content Filtering/Manipulating
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.1">5.1 How do I block ads?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.2">5.2 How can I manipulate GIF animation?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.3">5.3 How do I block all images on a webpage/disable images while browsing?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.4">5.4 How can I block pornographic content?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.5">5.5 How can I block individual sites?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#5.6">5.6 How can convert plain text URLs into links?</A>

6. Configuration and Preferences
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#6.1">6.1 How do I configure the keyboard shortcuts in Firefox?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#6.2">6.2 How can I edit the Firefox configuration files?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#6.3">6.3 Is there a UI for the preferences in about:config?</A>

7. Tabbed Browsing
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#7.1">7.1 How do I add a close button on each tab?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#7.2">7.2 Is there anyway I can reopen a closed tab?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#7.3">7.3 How can I make drag and drop tabs on the tab bar?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#7.4">7.4 How do I make Firefox use only tabs (single window mode)?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#7.5">7.5 How do I make Firefox use only windows and not tabs?</A>

8. Sidebar Issues
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#8.1">8.1 How can I turn a side bar into an independent window?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#8.2">8.2 How do I make firefox open only one folder at at time in the Bookmarks/History Sidebar?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#8.3">8.3 How can I extend my sidebar's functionality?</A>

9. Miscellaneous
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.1">9.1 How do I use .mht files in Firefox?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.2">9.2 Can I minimize Firefox to the windows system tray?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.3">9.3 I want to use a whitelist system for cookies, how can I do this?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.4">9.4 How do I save my tabbed browsing session?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.5">9.5 How can I use mouse gestures with Firefox?</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#9.6">9.6 How can I count the amount of words in a text area?</A>

10. Site Specific Extensions
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#10.1">10.1 Forums related extensions</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#10.2">10.2 Search Toolbars:</A>
<A HREF="http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=197645#10.3">10.3 Miscellaneous site specific extensions</A>

1. Rendering issues/Cloning IE

<A NAME=1.1></A>1.1 How do I make Firefox play embedded music on some pages?
Use the BGM conducter extension. It also provides you with additional control over background music.

<A NAME=1.2></A>1.2 How do I get an image toolbar in Firefox (similar to IE)?
Use the Image Toolbar extension.

<A NAME=1.3></A>1.3 How do I get autocomplete to work in Firefox?
You can either enable native autofill support or use the Inline AutoComplete extension.

<A NAME=1.4></A>1.4 How do I get the Google sidebar in Firefox?
Use the Google Side Search extension.

<A NAME=1.5></A>1.5 How do I get alternate text for images to be displayed in tooltips?
Use the Popup ALT Attributes extension.

<A NAME=1.6></A>1.6 How do I make Firefox use a find dialog (like in IE)?
Use the Retro Find extension.

<A NAME=1.7></A>1.7 Some pages simply don't work in Firefox, is there anything I can do about this?
First of all, it is not Firefox's fault that some pages are not displayed correctly. Some web designers code their pages in such a way that only Internet Explorer can display them. Your best solution is to email the webmaster of the page and ask him to rewrite his site using standards compliant code. If you must use this page, you might consider the IEview extension. It allows you to quickly open pages in Internet Explorer via the context menu. For a more 'complete' solution read the next question.

<A NAME=1.8></A>1.8 Is there any way I can use the IE rendering engine for specific sites (like Netscape 8)?
Read this post that explains how you can make Firefox use the IE rendering engine for some specific sites.

2. Download Manager and related issues

<A NAME=2.1></A>2.1 How do I stop a blank window from appearing when I try to download something?
Use the Disable target for Downloads extension.

<A NAME=2.2></A>2.2 How do I extend/customize the download manager?
Read this on how to customize the download manager. In order to provide additional functionality like allowing the download manager to open in the sidebar, use the Download manager tweak extension.

<A NAME=2.3></A>2.3 How do I make Firefox save files in specific folders based on their extensions?
Use the Download Sortextension.

<A NAME=2.4></A>2.4 How can I keep track of my downloads using the status bar?
Use the Download Statusbar extension.

<A NAME=2.5></A>2.5 How can I force Firefox to use an external download manager (e.g. Flashget)?
Use the Flashgot extension. The DownloadWith and MozEX extensions can also provide this functionality however the authors haven't updated them to be compatible with Firefox 1.0 (although 3rd party versions which support Firefox 1.0 are available).

<A NAME=2.6></A>2.6 How can I make Firefox display the size of file?
The Get File Size extension allows you to view the size of file under the properties menu of an item. The File Size (statusbar) extensions will display the size of an item in the statusbar.

<A NAME=2.7></A>2.7 How do I get an audio notification about a download being finished?
Use the Audio notifying "Download Terminated" extension.

<A NAME=2.8></A>2.8 How do I download all objects on a webpage?
Use the downTHEMall extension. It allows you not only to download all objects for a webpage, but also supports filters to download only specific objects. Very useful for downloading all images from a gallery.

3. Enhancing the Firefox UI

<A NAME=3.1></A>3.1 How can I modify Firefox's menus?
Use the Compact Menu extension.

<A NAME=3.2></A>3.2 How can I add my own custom toolbar buttons?
Use the Customizable Toolbar Buttons extension. To add more common elements to the toolbars (e.g. options, manage bookmarks) you can use the Toolbar Enhancements extension.

Other extensions related to toolbars\buttons:
  • Pref Buttons - Add several preference related entries (e.g. toggling javascript, images) to the customize toolbar menu
  • ProxyButton - Adds a button that allows you to enable and disable the use of a proxy
  • Stop-or-Reload - Merges the Stop and Reload buttons (similar to Safari)
  • Fusion - Merges the Location bar and the progress bar (similar to Safari)
<A NAME=3.3></A>3.3 How can I modify the context menu?
The Menu Editor extension allows you edit any aspect of the context menu and the 'Tools' menu. The Contextmenu Extensions project allows you to add additional functionality to the context menu (e.g. userdefined scripts).

Here are several extensions that allow you to add specific entries to the context menu:
  • Context Search - List all installed search engines (not only Google) to the 'Search web for' menu.
  • Full Screen - Adds 'Full Screen' to the context menu
  • Go Home - Adds 'Home' to the context menu
  • Ook - Adds the bookmarks menu to the context menu
  • Print - Adds 'Print' to the context menu
  • Print Image - Adds 'Print Image' to the context menu (similar to IE)
  • Print Preview - Adds 'Print Preview' to the context menu
  • Right Encoding - Adds the encoding menu to the context menu
<A NAME=3.4></A>3.4 How can I add a search button (similar to the 'go' button)?
Use the Search Button extension. Along with adding a search button. it also allows you to configure how the search bar works (e.g. enabling auto-clear, opening results in a new background tab)

<A NAME=3.5></A>3.5 How can I move the 'New Tab' button to the tab bar?
Use the Basics extension. It moves the 'New Tab' button to the left side of the tab bar.

<A NAME=3.6></A>3.6 How can I make the statusbar display additional information about the process of loading a webpage?
Use the Extended Statusbar extension.

4. Mini-Applications

<A NAME=4.1></A>4.1 Here is a list of extensions that can be considered as applications in their own right:5. Content Filtering/Manipulating

<A NAME=5.1></A>5.1 How do I block ads?
Ads can be blocked with the adblock extension. For a premade list blocked URLs/reagex expressions, read this. You can also use the Flashblock extension which block all flash animation, but allows you click on a placeholder in order to view the content. The Remove It Permanently extension allows you to permanently remove various objects from webpages.

<A NAME=5.2></A>5.2 How can I manipulate GIF animation?
Use the Anidisable extension.

<A NAME=5.3></A>5.3 How do I block all images on a webpage/disable images while browsing?
Use the Image-Show-Hide extension. It allows you to enable/disable images via a keyboard shortcut or a toolbar button.

<A NAME=5.4></A>5.4 How can I block pornographic content?
Use the BlockXXX extension.

<A NAME=5.5></A>5.5 How can I block individual sites?
A simple solution is to use you HOSTS file. However, this is not a complete solution and blocked sites can still be accessed if you know their IP addresses. A tutorial for the windows platform on how to edit your HOSTS file is available here.

<A NAME=5.6></A>5.6 How can convert plain text URLs into links?
Use the Linkification extension. The Text Link extensions provides similar functionality.

6. Configuration and Preferences

<A NAME=6.1></A>6.1 How do I configure the keyboard shortcuts in Firefox?
Use the Keyconfig extension.

<A NAME=6.2></A>6.2 How can I edit the Firefox configuration files?
You can either edit them directly using a text editor or use ChromEdit.

<A NAME=6.3></A>6.3 Is there a UI for the preferences in about:config?
The HiddenPrefs provides a UI for some of the preferences in about:config and some other options. The Configuration Mania extension provides with additional preferences that are not necessarily in about:config.

7. Tabbed Browsing

<A NAME=7.1></A>7.1 How do I add a close button on each tab?
Use the Tab X extension.

<A NAME=7.2></A>7.2 Is there anyway I can reopen a closed tab?
Yes, this can be done using the undoclosetab extension.

<A NAME=7.3></A>7.3 How can I make drag and drop tabs on the tab bar?
Use, the MiniT extension. The MiniT extension is available in several different versions that provide different functionality, consult this page to find a version that suits your needs.

<A NAME=7.4></A>7.4 How do I make Firefox use only tabs (single window mode)?
Firefox has an option that allows the user to enable single window mode, however due a larger than average amount of bugs related to this feature this option is hidden. Read this to learn how to enable this option.

There are also wide variety of extensions that allow you to enable single window mode, most of them provide additional tab related functionality.
  • Tabbrowser Preferences
  • Single Window - Allows pages created using javascript to be opened in new tabs
  • Tabbrowser Extensions - This is a large extension that provides almost any tab related functionality, however it does replace many of Firefox's core files and many users consider that it adds 'bloat' to Firefox.
  • Tab Mix - Provides a wide range of functionality for tabs and links. Also supports mouse gestures.
<A NAME=7.5></A>7.5 How do I make Firefox use only windows and not tabs?
Try the Tab Killer extension.

8. Sidebar Issues

<A NAME=8.1></A>8.1 How can I turn a side bar into an independent window?
Use the Ez Sidebar extension.

<A NAME=8.2></A>8.2 How do I make firefox open only one folder at at time in the Bookmarks/History Sidebar?
Use the Autoclose Bookmark & History Folders extension.

<A NAME=8.3></A>8.3 How can I extend my sidebar's functionality?
Use the All-In-One Sidebar extension. It provides a whole range of configuration option and it allows to view your download, extension and theme managers in a sidebar.

9. Miscellaneous

<A NAME=9.1></A>9.1 How do I use .mht files in Firefox?
Use the MAF extension. Other than supporting .mht files it also provides support for .maff (an unofficial mozilla archive format) files.

<A NAME=9.2></A>9.2 Can I minimize Firefox to the windows system tray?
This can be done with the Minimize to Tray extension.

<A NAME=9.3></A>9.3 I want to use a whitelist system for cookies, how can I do this?
The easiest solution would be to disable cookies and use the Cookie Button extension to allow cookies on selected sites. However, if you want additional control over your cookies (e.g. changing the expiration date) you might want to consider the Add 'n' Edit Cookies extension. You might also be interested in reading the Blocking Cookies tutorial for additional solutions.

<A NAME=9.4></A>9.4 How do I save my tabbed browsing session?
Use the Session Saver extension.

<A NAME=9.5></A>9.5 How can I use mouse gestures with Firefox?
There are several gesture related extensions:
  • All-in-one Gesture - This extension includes customization of scrolling behavior and tab scrolling.
  • easyGestures This extension implement mouse gestures with the help of a several popup pie menus. Take a look at this page to gain a better understanding of how this extension works.
  • Mouse Gestures - Provides mouse gesture functionality using a more traditional approach.
<A NAME=9.6></A>9.6 How can I count the amount of words in a text area?
Use the Text Area Word Counter extension.

10. Site Specific Extensions

<A NAME=10.1></A>10.1 Forums related extensions:<A NAME=10.2></A>10.2 Search Toolbars:
  • Googlebar - Adds IE's Google Toolbar to Firefox (unofficial)
  • Google Toolbar - The official Google Toolbar
  • Ask Jeeves Toolbar - Among other things allows you to 'snip' any website and store it on MyJeeves server.
  • moobar - Allows you to save various ebay searches
  • Yahoo Toolbar - The official Yahoo toolbar for firefox.
<A NAME=10.3></A>10.3 Miscellaneous site specific extensions:
Please PM me for suggestions or any other issues.
Last edited by MvD on August 22nd, 2005, 4:41 am, edited 30 times in total.
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BenBasson
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Post by BenBasson »

This might be a good thing to add to the knowledge base. I like it, though, very useful.
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Post by dgrimm1 »

Maybe the headline should be: How do I do ??? in Firefox -- Use EXTENSIONS!
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MvD
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Post by MvD »

Don't know about the KB, wouldn't that be a duplication of resources? Its already on TEM... Don't know about changing the headline, its meant to be more than just extensions.
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Post by dgrimm1 »

MvD wrote:Don't know about changing the headline, its meant to be more than just extensions.


didn't really mean that seriously... although understanding the concept of "Use Extensions = Get more Firefox features" is very important for people new to the software
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Post by FireManiac »

Nice list, MvD. :)
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Post by Mike »

Very good sticky MvD. Hopefully people will now read this before feeling the need to post their wishes for future firefox features, as most of the time they already exist within extensions that the user is unaware of.
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Post by oole »

MvD.. do you know the extension to get that list on the "help"-submenu? :) :) That list should be there :)

Nice list, thanks to you.

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Post by sandysart »

Hi everybody, I just installed Firefox. And would like to know if there is anywhere that I can find a COMPLETE list of extensions or add-ons? [-o<
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Post by dgrimm1 »

THe extensions mirror site lists over 500 firefox extensions:
http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showforum=2

That is probably a little overwelming, so they also have a list of the top 30 most popular extensions:
http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/index.php?showtopic=1901
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Post by systemBuilder »

It seems that the extensions are such a big part of FireFox, that maybe the "HELP" menu of Firefox should have a FAQ link that takes you right here to this web page.
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Post by rootcellar »

On the subject of Cookies, I turn them on and off a lot, but sometimes forget they're On. and therefore get cookied by places I don't want. I almost always realize this within a few minutes, but it's hard to figure out what cookies I just got. Some are obvious, others are not. What I'd like to see is tools/options/privacy/view-stored-cookies to be **sortable by date accepted**.
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Post by MvD »

rootcellar wrote:On the subject of Cookies, I turn them on and off a lot, but sometimes forget they're On. and therefore get cookied by places I don't want. I almost always realize this within a few minutes, but it's hard to figure out what cookies I just got. Some are obvious, others are not. What I'd like to see is tools/options/privacy/view-stored-cookies to be **sortable by date accepted**.


Why don't you simply turn them off permanently and use a whitelist system to accept the cookies you really need. After all, most people only need cookies for forums/portals/mails.
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whitelist?

Post by rootcellar »

Thanks for the help. But I'm not clear on how to 'whitelist' the ones I want. I do browse with cookies off most of the time, but say I'm browsing with cookies off, then I need to turn them on somewhere. The problem is forgetting to shut them off when leaving. How would a whitelist work with this?
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Post by MvD »

It's in the FAQ (8.3). Just install the cookie button extension, disable cookies and allow them for only the sites you need. The button is dead is easy to use.
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